Summer is the perfect time to explore new cities and meet other travelers from all over the globe. Eat, drink, and play your way across the United States, soaking in the sights and entertainment that have made its cities great destinations for travelers of all ages. Wherever you choose to go, you're bound to uncover unique treasures to make your vacation getaway unforgettable.
A food lover's paradise, filled with top-notch restaurants and bakeries. Remember to pack comfortable shoes so that you can wander up and down the city's hills, visiting Chinatown for noodles or Fillmore Street for jazz. Fisherman's Wharf will tempt you with fresh shrimp, and the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero is a top summer vacation spot for food lovers. Find specialty food shops, offering everything from mushrooms to caviar. Finally, all summer vacations to San Francisco must include a trip across the Golden Gate Bridge to enjoy breathtaking views.
Perfect summer getaway destination for music lovers – outdoor music festivals are a constant presence when the temperature rises. With Lollapalooza and the Chicago Blues Festival, there's something for everyone. The city's boat tours are one of the reasons why Chicago is one of America's top summer vacation destinations, as they offer a unique perspective on the city's history and skyline. Enrich your summer vacations with art, history, and sports in Chicago's North Side, home to baseball fields, running paths, and an outdoor theatre.
One of the best summer vacation spots for artsy and adventurous travelers is Seattle, Washington. The Pratt Fine Arts Center offers a range of workshops, focusing on crafts such as woodworking, painting, and jewelry-making. MoPOP, a non-profit museum, is a great place to learn about music in popular culture. All the best summer vacations in Seattle include great coffee – make sure to visit one of its specialty roasters to fuel your day.
After a long and difficult winter, families and individuals are eager to switch off their screens, close the cookbooks, and turn their travel dreams into reality. As the vaccine rollout continues and restrictions begin to lift in the U.S., many eager travelers are planning their first escapes outside of home in over a year.
To see how Americans are planning, dreaming, and considering travel for summer 2021, the world’s largest vacation rental search engine recently conducted a general population survey* of U.S. travelers - paired with insights from HomeToGo data – bringing you the key travel trends shaping the summer 2021 travel surge.
Americans are eager to travel again and escape the sights and sounds of their own living rooms once vaccinated, as seen in HomeToGo’s research:
Telecommuting has given many the freedom to work and study from anywhere, although it has also blurred the lines for work-life balance. Many travelers are now seeking to revisit the true meaning of vacations, although it might take some time for travelers to fully disconnect from their work:
The most popular, destinations that are showing up on American’s vacation rental searches for summer 2021 all have one thing in common: less crowds. These low population towns show a consistent trend that travelers are still seeking to stay socially distant in their first trips this summer.
Despite being locked in together at home for the past year, travelers surprisingly expressed that their partners would still be their go-to travel companion.
Couples are seeking seaside escapes for their first trips: HomeToGo is seeing an upward trend in searches for two-person stays this summer, specifically in beach destinations. With some craving trips as far away as Bora Bora, the majority are opting to stay local:
*Selection based on top trending destinations on HomeToGo for two-person stays
Beyond price, cleanliness and free cancellation are the top considerations for travelers. 55% of survey respondents ranked “Extended Clean and Disinfection” in their top two considerations when booking a rental, prioritized over other amenities such as beach access, stable internet, and a pool, hot tub, or sauna.
Extended Clean & Disinfection
Free Cancellation
Stable Internet
Spa Amenities (pool, hot tub, sauna)
Beach Access
80% of respondents said they saved money by traveling less in 2020, and 55% of those who saved intend on spending it on future vacations. Survey responses also show that:
Families whose summer travel plans didn’t pan out last year may still strike vacation gold this time around. HomeToGo data reveals the top trending far-flung destinations for travelers searching for rentals with 3 or more people:
For industry specific trends and tips to capitalize on the new normal of travel:
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*Survey Methodology
Research conducted by HomeToGo among a sample of 1,298 respondents across 5 markets (United States, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany) with a confidence level of 95% and a 6% estimated margin of error. To participate in this survey, respondents had to be 21 or older. The survey was taken online in April 2021.
HomeToGo Internal Data Methodology:
Length of Stay: Based on the observed length of stay for U.S. bookings on HomeToGo.com between January 1, 2021 - April 6, 2021 for stays with a check-in date between May 1, 2021 - September 1, 2021, compared to the same period in 2019.
Distance to Search: Based on internal data representing the average distance to search for U.S. domestic trips, based on user origin. Data collected April 12, 2021.
Top 5 long-haul destinations: Based on traveler searches on HomeToGo.com between January 1, 2021 - April 6, 2021 for a three-person minimum stay with a check-in date between May 1 - September 1, 2021, compared to the same period in 2019.
Trending Small Towns: Selection is based on the top 500 most searched cities in the U.S. on HomeToGo.com with a check-in date between May 1 - September 1, 2021, compared to the same period in 2019. Data collected April 6, 2021.
Trending Beach Destinations for Couples: Based on traveler searches on HomeToGo.com between January 1, 2021 - April 6, 2021 for a two-person stay with a check-in date between May 1 - September 1, 2021, compared to the same period in 2019.
Median nightly price for a vacation rental between May 1, 2021 and September 1, 2021. Prices are in USD and were collected on April 12, 2021.
